First Call: Steelers may consider reunion with Bud Dupree; Allen Robinson signs elsewhere; Jake Guentzel scores again
Friday’s “First Call” discusses a potential reunion for the Pittsburgh Steelers with a former first-round pick.
An ex-Steeler is heading to New York. Jake Guentzel keeps doing what he always does in the playoffs.
And a pair of former Pirates pitchers are taking to the mound with some wind in their sails.
‘Big Bud’ coming back?
The Steelers may have an interest in reuniting with former outside linebacker Bud Dupree. That’s according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter.
Free-agent LB Bud Dupree concluded a visit with the Los Angeles Chargers, per source. Dupree also has been talking with the Falcons and Steelers, two of the three NFL teams for which he has played.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 9, 2024
The Steelers definitely could use another backup OLB besides Nick Herbig. Markus Golden, who handled that role well last year, is also a free agent.
Dupree is now 31 years old. As Schefter mentioned, he played 2023’s season with the Atlanta Falcons on a one-year contract for about $3 million. Dupree started 16 games for the Falcons, recording 6.5 sacks. That tied for the team lead. He totaled 39 tackles, eight tackles for a loss.
A first-round pick out of Kentucky in the 2015 draft, Dupree was a late bloomer. After some slow developing years, Dupree was excellent in 2019 and 2020 before a knee injury cut him down with six games left in his walk-year as a Steeler.
Despite an ACL tear, Dupree went into free agency and scored a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Tennessee Titans in 2021.
However, Dupree missed 12 games in two years in Nashville and only totaled seven sacks.
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I’ve always liked Dupree, and I loved the way he played his last two seasons in Pittsburgh. But last year it looked like Golden had a little more left in the tank. Golden had four sacks in 230 snaps. Dupree played 724 snaps to get his 6.5.
If a re-signing is to happen, I’d rather see it happen with Golden.
Allen to the Big Apple
As the Steelers hunt for wide receiver help, one of their own is going elsewhere.
Allen Robinson has signed a free-agent contract with the New York Giants. The Penn State product played in all 17 games for the Steelers last season, catching 34 balls for 280 yards. Those were career-low marks for Robinson in a full season’s worth of play.
The #Giants have signed veteran WR Allen Robinson, most recently of the #Steelers.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 9, 2024
For his career, Robinson has 562 career receptions for 7,028 yards and 43 touchdowns in 127 games.
Once he gets to the Giants, Robinson will walk into a wide receivers room that also includes fellow former Steelers Gunner Olszewski and Miles Boykin.
Another Guentzel goal
Jake Guentzel scored again for the Carolina Hurricanes during their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the New York Rangers.
The former Penguin scored the first goal of the game in Raleigh Thursday night. That’s after he posted two in Game 2 on Tuesday.
GUENTZEL'S ON FIRE
Jake Guentzel opens the scoring for the @Canes with his third goal of the series! #StanleyCup
: @NHL_On_TNT (truTV) & @SportsonMax https://t.co/W9mpYG1lMO
: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1 pic.twitter.com/BoUe8aTwr3— NHL (@NHL) May 9, 2024
For Guentzel that’s 38 career playoff goals.
Jake Guentzel scored the game-opening goal for the @Canes, marking his third tally in the past two contests.
Catch him in action right now on @NHL_On_TNT, @StreamOnMax, @Sportsnet and @TVASports. #NHLStats: https://t.co/ntyKIo4wDi pic.twitter.com/dbp44utJz8
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 10, 2024
Unfortunately for Guentzel and the Hurricanes, the Rangers won the game 3-2. Upper St. Clair’s Vincent Trocheck had two assists. New York now leads the best-of-seven 3-0.
The Rangers look to close out the sweep Saturday.
On the bump
Friday night two ex-Pirates are looking to keep their good starts going on the mound. Tyler Glasnow is 6-1 for the Los Angeles Dodgers so far, with a 2.70 ERA and 63 strikeouts. That strikeout total is tied with Zack Wheeler for the most in Major League Baseball.
Tyler Glasnow drops the hammer for his 10th strikeout. pic.twitter.com/7yJiHuCZqj
— MLB (@MLB) May 5, 2024
Glasnow is facing the San Diego Padres (20-20), who are in second place in the National League West, 6.5 games back of the Dodgers for first place in the division.
As for Charlie Morton, at 40 years old, he is 2-0 with a 3.50 ERA for the Atlanta Braves over six starts this season. He pitches against the New York Mets Friday night.
Charlie Morton getting a Sword on a Curveball in the middle of the opposite Batters Box. pic.twitter.com/ubOBpfTSlH
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 4, 2024
Atlanta begins play Friday night 22-12, two games back of the Philadelphia Phillies for first place in the National League East.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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